The Lodge Of Benevolence.

in the ability , experience , and prudence of the Lodge of Benevolence , that its members will not heedlessly , and "without the utmost possible preliminary investigation , vote away large , or even small sums , to those who apply to them for help . Some short time for further consideration ,

and if necessary , revision of the vote or recommendation is necessai-y , but as Brother Binckes has pointed out , it should be enough if the case will bear tho rig id scrutiny of

the Lodge of Benevolence , and afterwards of the Grand Lodge itself . Any further delay is an interference between the desire of the former to administer relief , and the applicant who needs it . Such interference we consider unnecessary .

The regular half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of the Crystal Palace Gas Company was held on Thursday , when the directors presented their report for the six months to 30 th June 1881 . This report was in all respects satisfactory . The capital account showed that of £ 437 , 500 , the

aggregate of the amounts authorised to be raised , less than £ 300 , 000 had been paid up . The Reserve Fund showed a balance on 30 th of June of over £ 30 , 843 , and the Insurance account one of over £ 3 , 331 . There were made during the half-year 245 , 513 , 000 cubic feet of gas , of which

233 , 645 , 000 cubic feet were sold , and 2 , 951 , 900 cubic feet used on the premises . From the capital account it appeared that the receipts were £ 298 , 754 10 s , while the total expenditure from the establishment of the Company , after making the requisite allowance for depreciation in

the value of meters and gas stoves , amounted to £ 274 , 820 7 s 6 d leaving a balance to the good of £ 23 , 934 2 s 6 d . The revenue account , showed receipts amounting in all to £ 56 , 563 , the principal items being gas ( public and private ) and meter rental over £ 42 , 703 , and

by sale of residual products over £ 13 , 771 . Among the chief items of expenditure were , for manufacture of gas upwards of £ 31 , 002 , for distribution of ditto £ 3 , 092 , lighting and repairing public lamps just on £ 724 , rents , rates , and taxes £ 1 , 727 , expenses of management nearly £ 2 , 961 .

These with the lesser items made up a total of over £ 39 , 947 , the balance to be carried forward to profit and loss being £ 16 , 616 5 s 2 d . The accounts being so satisfactory it was recommended and agreed that the following dividends—in every case less income-tax—should be

declared , namely , 6 per cent , on the preference stock , 7 per cent , both on the ordinary and new ordinary 7 per cent , stock , and 10 per cent , on the ordinary 10 per cent stock , after making the necessary allowance for which there yet remained nearly £ 4 , 000 to be carried forward to the profit

of the next half-year . In all other respects the tale as told by the Directors was similar . The gas examiners of the parishes supplied by the Company reported satisfactorily as to the illuminating power of the gas , its freedom from sul phuretted hydrogen and ammonia , and the

limitation of the sulphur to the amount prescribed by the parliamentary standard . It was further announced that a contract had been entered into for a new gas holder to be erected in the spring of next year , the tank to receive the holder being already almost completed . This

would give the Company an additional storage of 1 , 600 , 000 cubic feet of gas . The Directors also recommended an addition to the salary of the secretary ( Brother Magnus Ohren P . G . A . D . C . ) of £ 50 , in graceful and grateful

recognition of his services . The meeting passed off most satisfactorily . It may be added that the Chairman of the Company is Bro . Dr . Erasmus Wilson P . G , D ., while one of the Auditors is Bro . James Glaisher P . G . D .

It is with great regret we announce the death , after a few days illness , at his residence , 28 Belgrave Square , of Robert Shapland , second Lord Carew . His Lordship , who was born in the year 1818 , was educated at Eton and Christ Church , Oxford , and it was during his stay afc the

University that he was initiated into Freemasonry in the Apollo University Lodge , No . 357 . This was in the year 1838 . He formerly sat for Wexford in the House of Commons , and succeeded his father the first Baron in 1856 .

The funeral took place on Thursday , at Castle Borough , Enniscorthy , Co . Wexford , whither his Lordship ' s remains had been conveyed previously . By his death a riband of the Order of St . Patrick and the Lord-Lieutenancy of Wexford become vacant .

Popular Infidelity.

POPULAR INFIDELITY .

FROM THE VOICE OF MASONBT .

THE Jnno Voice ' s comment on the Agnostic type of " popular infidelity" is so pointed that Atheism and Infidelity may well have a fresh rap from the Masonio setting-maul for " general good " and benefit of the Craft in particular . Imprimis , in answer to any fling of there being "bad men" in Masonry ; granted ! and no one denies ifc . But the bad are " everywhere ; " in societies of the best bodies , corporations , lodges , assemblies , unions , and cynosures , of all

sorts , secular or religious . Among the very reformers are some of the worst " members " in tho world ; and , the better the organization in purpose , often , for a cloak of goodness , hypocrites will don its habiliments . As a positive prerequisite , though , without exception for applicants to become worthy and accepted Freemasons , « ' GOD and the soul ' s immortality " cannot be rejected or disavowed . Not

exclusively to employ one s own , but tbe very f xpress language of no less than that representing one of the United States , Masonically , to quote : " The Grand Lodge of Arkansas has put itself on record against anything in the shape of atheism , infidelity and materialism , in the following : Resolved , That the belief in GOD and tho immortality of the soul is

a cardinal doctrine of Masonry , and it is the sense of this Grand Lodge that the G OD of Masonry ( the Divine Being , that is , Masonry avows and demands faith in ) is the Great Architect of the Universe , the Creator aud Preserver of all things , the GOD of the Bible as well ns tbe GOD of those who ( as the heatheu ) know nothing about its feaohings ; thafc the GOD of Masonry is not a god , a force , a material .

istio cause , but the one true and living God , fco whom we must all account ; and that anyone rejecting these truths is unworthy of i » itiation into , or holding membership in a Lodge of Ancient , Free and Accepted Masons . " That , as a human source , may settle the Deity question with unbelievers , for Masonic exemplification at least . From Holy Scripture

on the divine side , most clearly , is derived apt illustration of the atheist , as shown by Psalm liii : " The fool hath said in his heart , There is no God . " There being no quarrel with Masons subscribing to belief in what Deity is , agreeably , as to Faith in common , of Holy Litnrgy , its first article of religion forthsbows , " There is but one living and true GOD , everlasting , without body , parts or passions j of

infinite power , wisdom and goodness ; the Maker and Preserver of all tbings * both visible and invisible . " So , too , Creedo , " one Goo , THE FATHER ALMIGHTY , Maker of heaven and earth , and of all things visible and invisible , " acknowledged by millions of every nation , tongue and kindred , under the whole canopy of heaven , in a world that . " without GOD , " if left to its own baser self , would be little else

than " bell upon earth . " Ignoration and ignorance seem to furnish the fashionable excuse for professed infidelity . Is it not , indeed , a pitiably poor pass to come to for "human intellect "—the boasted brain , that those notoriously of this world go so much on , by way of " reason and presumption " to plead , after all said and done , poverty of understand .

ing , and non-knowledge as their all-sufficient apology for being " know-nothings ! " It proves nothing . It is the beggarly makeshift of the time-serving , sensuous and Godless . How despicable is this continual , "I don ' t know , " and "I don't believe , " with its coordinate , " Don ' t care , " all the while , seekers for light and life in

the world are not asking for negation , as not for what NOT to believe , but for something TO believe in ! Meanwhile the infidel lyre goes tinkling on with its puny refrain , like the mnsicless twang of some little one-stringed instrument ; " There is no Deity , and what do we knowf "

Out upon it , men , Masons , Christians , religious and responsible of our nineteenth century ! Set yourselves against this atheistic demon of doubt and unbelief , seeking to set up the mere mortal to be worshipped as if Divine ! Put foot on the enemy of souls , and foe to your better self ! Believe in GOD ! Seek to serve and worship Him ! Trust in Him—our ALL-F ATHER ' . Commit your ways unto Him

Ask light , and the true light of Him who is the " Way , the Truth and the Life" and Light ! The Archbishop of Canterbury in a work just appearing from his pen , caustically remarks : An agnostic is one who says , " I know nothing of things spiritual and metaphysical . You tell me that there is a world beyond the

grave , and thafc there is something within me which is destined to live in that world when all the material objects of whose existence alone I can be certain have crumbled into dust . You tell me old stories of men believing that they had intercourse in time past with a spiritual being who dwells somewhere above the clouds . I know nothing which is capable of corroborating such fancies . Why am I nofc to

regard them as the dreams of a heated imagination ? I want something certain and I find this certainty only in the physical phenomena around me , and in the unchanging laws of outward nature . It is jnsfc possible that there may be some truth in your vague imaginings , but I cannot ascertain ifc , and , therefore , for all practical purposes , I shall consider them fco be but vain * * . You say

there is a Supreme Intelligence animated by a Father ' s love , which regulates all things . I see no proof of it * * * . Let us confine onr thoughts to what we are certain of . Let us conform oarselves to the irresistible course of this all pervading machinery of which we find ourselves a part . Let us make the most of our present material existence * * * . Priests and so-called theological philosophers , all the world over , have been only misleading

ns * * # * . I know nothing bnt what I can observe and classify , and I take no interest in your theologies and vain philosophies . " Now , having read this as graphically depicting the empty animus and expression of the merely material—the materially-minded , that ia , contesting the really invisible—from effect to cause—let ns consider the question ^ from another stond-point vice vena ,